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Project Bandit update.

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 01-04-2008 @ 17:53:51 Reply | Edit

Hey guys!
You wont believe this but I went to pick up my car from the paint shop today and found where they had to repaint the hood they had somehow got mixed up and painted it gold! I can't believe how that could happen! I was like you got to be kidding me! So now they have to paint the hood back black and hopfully will be ready tomorrow.
Other then that the car looks great they have it wet sanded and buffed now. It's very slick and strait!
I hope to post pics tomorrow. I will keep all pics and updates in this thread.

feel free to post comments.

Posted By: Pocket On: 08-20-2007 @ 23:44:16 Reply | Top | Edit

Didnt use Vogley n Todd autobody did you?

Those tools couldnt find their ass if they got kicked in it
--
"If you have complete control over the damned thing, you're not going fast enough." - Carrol Smith

Posted By: 4Birdman On: 08-22-2007 @ 13:43:41 Reply | Top | Edit

Dude, how the hell do you find these people that hack on your car?

1998 Trans Am - A little bit stock
1979 Bandit Trans Am - Coming to life soon
PatriotDream.org - Help build a soldier's dream car

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 08-22-2007 @ 13:48:15 Reply | Top | Edit

I just never had any luck man! With anything!

Posted By: blackcamaro On: 08-23-2007 @ 00:22:30 Reply | Top | Edit

keep an eye on the miles on it. i havent had luck either and i have learned from it.
--

GRAND TOURING 1984 BLACK CAMARO Z28 "Bacon Suck D"-Barefoot Badass

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 08-23-2007 @ 02:35:39 Reply | Top | Edit

What do you mean keep an eye on the miles?
My car just has 57,000

Posted By: 4Birdman On: 08-23-2007 @ 07:23:03 Reply | Top | Edit

He means make sure they aren't driving around beating on your car while it is in the shop.

I had my car at a body shop once and when I got it back it had an extra 45 miles and was blaring rap music.

1998 Trans Am - A little bit stock
1979 Bandit Trans Am - Coming to life soon
PatriotDream.org - Help build a soldier's dream car

Posted By: Calaban007 On: 08-23-2007 @ 11:56:04 Reply | Top | Edit

If it still runs as bad as it did in previous post he shouldn't have to worry about that. That's why I take my vehicles to people I know and trust. I only use 2 mechanics, if I need one, and 2 body guys. Both of the body guys are good friends of my dad and the the mechanics are friends of my father in law.
--

1995 Camaro Z28 & 1989 IROC-Z Stock restoration in progress, well almost stock

http://www.myspace.com/163296073

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 08-23-2007 @ 19:32:04 Reply | Top | Edit

Ok I just picked her up today!

Posted By: LeadFootedRacer On: 08-23-2007 @ 19:34:20 Reply | Top | Edit

looks sharp

Posted By: 4Birdman On: 08-23-2007 @ 21:08:57 Reply | Top | Edit

Wow, that looks pretty fucking good!

1998 Trans Am - A little bit stock
1979 Bandit Trans Am - Coming to life soon
PatriotDream.org - Help build a soldier's dream car

Posted By: 84SEBird On: 08-23-2007 @ 21:46:50 Reply | Top | Edit

I must admit, it looks really good. Are you going to do the gold pinstripe like the original Bandit car?

--
Brad
1984 Firebird SE- cream-beige- the prestige color!

1987 Corvette

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 08-23-2007 @ 22:18:04 Reply | Top | Edit

Hey guys and thanks for the complaments.
I told you guys it would look good black! And yes I'm still doing the Bandit theme but I started to have second thoughts after seeing how much it looks like KITT from Knight Rider! That was another childhood dream car! I'm getting the Bandit wheels put on tomorrow.
I'm also having problems with the flip up headlights. They come up but wont go back down. I've replaced the contol module box on the firewall and they did nothing then so I put the old one back on and again come up but not down.
Any info on this?

Posted By: LeadFootedRacer On: 08-24-2007 @ 06:32:05 Reply | Top | Edit

still needs a shaker to be a real bandit car!
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Posted By: LeadFootedRacer On: 08-24-2007 @ 08:19:51 Reply | Top | Edit

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 08-24-2007 @ 10:26:19 Reply | Top | Edit

I've never seen this on a 3rd gen. Is it custom done or after market?

Posted By: Shift On: 08-24-2007 @ 12:51:38 Reply | Top | Edit

It is custom made. I get called kitt by a guy at work all the time lol.
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Posted By: Pocket On: 08-24-2007 @ 18:28:04 Reply | Top | Edit

Try replacing the headlight switch on the dash

--
"If you have complete control over the damned thing, you're not going fast enough." - Carrol Smith

Posted By: LeadFootedRacer On: 08-24-2007 @ 21:38:19 Reply | Top | Edit

ditch the turbo hood and get a freakin shaker!
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Posted By: Shift On: 08-24-2007 @ 23:09:53 Reply | Top | Edit

I would like a shaker, but I think I am gonna go for a 3" cowl.
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Posted By: roubenbird On: 08-24-2007 @ 23:48:41 Reply | Top | Edit

looks real decent. i was suprised how the formula hood looks on it.
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WS6 3o5 TBI 88' Formula, 670cfm Holley Projection Throttle Body Holley Projection Intake Mainfold, Underdrive Pulley,Dual Snorkle & Factory Cowl Induction,now with short straight pipes, UMI Subframe connectors, Fourth Gen seats, Three row Radiator, Posi rear end (2.73),TPI heads, 1.6 roller rockers
15.543 @ 88.21mph

Posted By: IROCZman15 On: 08-26-2007 @ 21:43:14 Reply | Top | Edit

that looks real good

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http://www.freewebs.com/iroczman15/

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 08-30-2007 @ 23:21:55 Reply | Top | Edit

Yeppy!
I got my motor fixed! I replaced the 02 censor and ignition module and when I went to start it something poped and it wouldn't hit a lick. I did some calling around and a guy gave me a number of a shop way across town and said if that guy can't fix it sell the car because it can't be fixed. So I called him up and told him all the hell I've been thru with this car and he said man bring it up here I will get that car running right. So I had it towed up there and he did some tests and said well for one the ignition module is fried and second all that MSD shit is the other problem. He said all that MSD stuff is junk and to go buy a stock coil and distributer. So I did and he also found the idle control censor was not working right and said get that as well. I bought a stock distributor and coil, idle censor and TPS and took all that to him. After a few hours he calls me up and said it's running like a sewing machine.
I didn't believe him at first but I went up there and it seemed to run great and would idle in gear. He said man I took it out and it hit 80mph in nothing flat. I said shit.
Guys I'm here to say it's a differant car all together! That sumbitch will flat out get down the road now and gets side ways if you romp on it at a stand still! I can't believe it! It revs hard to 5 grand now and dam near chirps the tires hitting 2nd. I would say it's an easy low 15 second car now it has to be.
I pulled out of a gas station last night and there was some kid holler light em up! I droped it in low and stomped on it and it drifted side ways all the way across the parking lot!
I would say after some headers and porting on the plenium it could be a pretty bad ass little 305.

I've also got the bandit wheels on it now and that looks awsome. I did get the gold fade strip around the bottom but not got to the birds just yet. I've since drove the car back to my home town of Kingsport and put it in dads garage for a wile.

Posted By: Calaban007 On: 08-30-2007 @ 23:34:50 Reply | Top | Edit

Well you can send me all the MSD "Junk" if you don't want it. I'll gladly take it.

That's also what a good mechanic will do for you.

--

1995 Camaro Z28 & 1989 IROC-Z Stock restoration in progress, well almost stock

http://www.myspace.com/163296073
[ Edited on 08/30/2007 @ 23:36:26 ]

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 08-30-2007 @ 23:44:46 Reply | Top | Edit

He said all that high output MSD ignition stuff is only for high powered high compression engines ment for the drag strip and not a daily driver for the street. He said plus on a computer controled car it's 10 times worse because it can fry electrical componants and throw off the computer and cause everything to screw up.

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 08-30-2007 @ 23:46:05 Reply | Top | Edit

I left that distributor and coil at the shop I was so exited that my car was fixed I didn't care about them.

Posted By: 84SEBird On: 08-31-2007 @ 00:17:13 Reply | Top | Edit

Hmmm... sounds like the "lousy 305" you didn't like has come back to life. If I remember in another post you said they were junk. Glad it's running right again...bring on the ricers!

Just a comment... I have a daily driver with an MSD in it and it's running great and has been for well over the last year. MSD is just fine for a daily driver. My son has had one on his Bird for the last 4 years with no problem, so I don't think that was the problem as much as the other sensors being bad and possibly the MSD system being installed wrong by a previous owner. One thing we did find is that the higher voltage does mean you need to replace the cap and rotor a bit more often, but we've found them to be dead-on reliable. Just my 2 cents worth.

--
Brad
1984 Firebird SE- cream-beige- the prestige color!

1987 Corvette

Posted By: LeadFootedRacer On: 09-03-2007 @ 17:24:34 Reply | Top | Edit

brad, what do you know?

Posted By: 84SEBird On: 09-03-2007 @ 19:33:46 Reply | Top | Edit

Leadfoot,

I know absolutely nothing and you can't trust anything I say... You have been warned!

--
Brad
1984 Firebird SE- cream-beige- the prestige color!

1987 Corvette
--
Brad
1984 Firebird SE- cream-beige- the prestige color!

1987 Corvette
[ Edited on 09/03/2007 @ 19:52:50 ]

Posted By: roubenbird On: 09-04-2007 @ 18:30:15 Reply | Top | Edit

^LOL

TTopbandit, congreats man! I'm glad after all the moaning adn groaning you got your shi!t together and running well. It looked great red it looks great black and i really hope that you pull off the bandit look. Get some pics up with those rims! !
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Posted By: Shift On: 09-05-2007 @ 22:58:23 Reply | Top | Edit

Ill buy the MSD stuff off you

Anyways, the 305 is still a good little engine now ain't it?

My car goes sideways all the time

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 09-06-2007 @ 14:03:43 Reply | Top | Edit

Hey guys!
Just wanted to update you all on project Bandit!
I finished the gold pin striping yesterday but still not got the birds or trans am logos done yet. It's looking great and turns heads everywhere I go!

Posted By: 84SEBird On: 09-06-2007 @ 14:30:50 Reply | Top | Edit

Looks really great. Did you do the pinstripe yourself or have someone else do it? Is the striping in a kit or did someone do up a custom graphics package for it?

As stated earlier, even with everyone's moaning and groaning, you stuck to it and it looks great! Glad it's all coming together for you.

Brad

--
Brad
1984 Firebird SE- cream-beige- the prestige color!

1987 Corvette

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 09-06-2007 @ 14:35:43 Reply | Top | Edit

I did all the striping myself. I just got 4 rolls of gold pin striping from o rileys and cut everything to fit. It took 2 days to complete but turned out well I think.
I do have a graphics shop making my birds and trans am logos and should be ready next week.
I'll keep ya posted.

Posted By: roubenbird On: 09-06-2007 @ 16:10:11 Reply | Top | Edit

WOW man, that looks freaking great!!!

What the hell do you do for a living to afford all of this and still have time to stripe it? i mean wow, that striping is really good!!! I dont know how the interior and motor looks but that will be one neat TA!
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Posted By: 406TPI On: 09-06-2007 @ 19:03:39 Reply | Top | Edit

I have to say its looks a hell of lot better now than it did in the first pics you posted.
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My Cardomain Page

Posted By: Remdog On: 09-06-2007 @ 22:17:26 Reply | Top | Edit

where did u get the 15x8 rims i heard there worth 2000 to 2500 4 a set

Posted By: Shift On: 09-06-2007 @ 22:23:22 Reply | Top | Edit

I dont like the pinstriping, I would have left it black. It turned out nice, but I have always thought the bandit striping was cheesy (on the original)
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Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 09-07-2007 @ 02:36:50 Reply | Top | Edit

See I told you all I knew what I was doing and a 3rd gen bandit would be cool. Just give me a few more days to get all the birds and everything done and I will post many more pics. This car is a real attention geter everywhere I drive it. Just today I stoped to get gas at a gas station and when I went in to pay and came back out there was 7 guys standing around the car and when I walked up one said dude is that yours. I was like yep and they said that is the most bad ass TA they ever seen and one guy said man name your price, I want that car. I said sorry not for sell. When I told him it was a one owner 57,000 mile car his tung fell out of his head and he offered me 10 grand for it. I said na it's not going anywhere anytime soon. Plus I have alot more then that in it anyway.

As for the 15X8 snowflakes I found them in Nashville and sent them off to be profesionaly restored. They have been beed blasted, painted and remechined to better then new finish then 5 coats of clear to forever seal in the polished aluminum. I have a little over a grand in the wheels with the new GM caps and custom lugs to bolt these on a 3rd gen.
I got in my first race today after getting the motor right. My friend Mike challenged me with his 05 nissan altima V6 and I blew his doors off!
That felt really good and old car is running pretty good now but I still would like to improve it more with a few simple mods.

Posted By: LeadFootedRacer On: 09-07-2007 @ 06:54:44 Reply | Top | Edit

missing 2 things in my opinion. it needs a shaker and the origional splitter style exhaust tips.

still looks great!

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 09-07-2007 @ 12:09:56 Reply | Top | Edit

Yeah I've been debating on the 77 style tips. As for the shaker it is a cool idea but I'm parcle to the turbo hood that came on these cars.
Still I think this is the car that should have been made at least as a special order option.
I played a little joke the other day on a guy and told him this is 1 of only 5 87 Bandit adition cars ever made and he bout shit him self!
I think he was ready to sell his house to try and buy this car off me. LOL
I don't mean to brag but it's getting to be a hassle just going out in it. people come up from nowhere and talk my head off over the car. Everyone says they have never seen a TA like that and want to know what it is and who has restored it. Even TA guys flip out to see a mint set of old gold snowflakes on a 80s 3rd gen model. I mostly love crusing around pulling up at red lights beside some 16 year old punk in his raged primered up 90s honda with a bumble bee muffler and a drag wing and make them look like shit in front of there little girlfriends.
How I wish I had this car back in high school!

Posted By: Pocket On: 09-07-2007 @ 18:13:25 Reply | Top | Edit

Would you drive this one into a tree like your Firebird from HS?

See? That lil 305 aint no slouch when its running like it should

The attention will wane, but the upkeep of a clean black car will not
--
"If you have complete control over the damned thing, you're not going fast enough." - Carrol Smith

Posted By: neffz28 On: 09-08-2007 @ 20:29:48 Reply | Top | Edit

Hey car looks great man...iv always liked the way the firebird fenders have the cut out...does anyone know if anyone has grafted this on to a camaro i think that would look cool

Posted By: wildcatkit52

On: 09-08-2007 @ 23:13:46 Reply | Top | Edit

Hey bandit, you sell your other wheels yet? I need some wheels and tires to stick on my car until I get the suspension parts lined out and custom wheels measure for...

I don't live too far away. I am sure I could find a reason to run over to TN. Besides checking out your Bandit 3rd gen that is.

I almost fell out of my chair when I read the post that showed how it looked before you started on it.

I think that car is my all time favorite F-body. If I have had found one of those before starting on my 92 I would have gotten it in a second.

I would definitely add the 77 style exhaust tips!
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Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 09-09-2007 @ 02:02:59 Reply | Top | Edit

Sorry but I no longer have the wheels. I've since moved back to my home town of Kingsport Tn and I left the wheels in Nashville.
I hope to post new pics soon of the car. I'm getting the birds and Trans Am decale put on next week please check back to see.

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 09-11-2007 @ 12:46:40 Reply | Top | Edit

Hey everyone.
I would like to ask everyone here to take a minute sometime today and remember the ones lost 6 years ago today and say a prayer or two for the families.

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 10-07-2007 @ 15:55:36 Reply | Top | Edit

3rd gen Bandit is mostly finished! Sorry for the bad cam some pics came out fuzzy. Anyway hope you liked my little project it's been fun!

This car really turns heads every where I go, I can't take it to a gas station with out people comming up wanting to know where I found a TA like that! Everyone wants to buy it and I say it's not for sell.
My next project for it will be a twin turbo for the 305. and frame conectors. Maybe 3.73 gears. That will be for next year tho I've spent to much as it is this year on this car.
I guess I can say I have the only 1987 Bandit Trans Am in the world!

Please let me know what ya think?

Posted By: Pocket On: 10-07-2007 @ 17:01:59 Reply | Top | Edit

That looks really good

Be aware there were a few Bandit II 3rd gens so yours wont be the only one

The TT ebay thing has been around for a while
Its good bang for the buck but be aware that is a cheap quality

There are alot of posts on TGO about the headers cracking very quickly, and several other parts being second rate

--
"If you have complete control over the damned thing, you're not going fast enough." - Carrol Smith

Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 10-10-2007 @ 23:27:27 Reply | Top | Edit

Was hoping for more replys. Please let me know what yall think?
You moose twits! lol
Little humor there.

Posted By: roubenbird On: 10-10-2007 @ 23:34:20 Reply | Top | Edit

Looks pretty good! I'd stay away from that turbo kit. a crate motor yould be less expensive and more reliable. then spray it!

As of late i'm all about the 100 shot. Doesnt kill the car and pretty cheap!
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Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 10-11-2007 @ 01:24:39 Reply | Top | Edit

All my friends hates this car and tell me it's why I can't get a date. They say I should trade it for a honda civic. I told them I wouldn't trade this car for a field full of hondas! And any girl that would not be interisted in me over the car I wouldn't have any interists in either!
The Bandit lives the Bandit stays!
I have many more projects in mind for the car next summer! Engine and Trany upgrades, maybe rear gears. Thought about totaly changing the interior color from gray to tan. Maybe a slap stick shifter and a kick ass sound system!
Frame connectors will be the first big mod I do.
I'm debating on the twin turbo, I'm trying to find someone who knows turbos and how to install them right and tune them. I need to know what the limit of boost you can safely run on a stock motor without hurting it.

Posted By: IROCZman15 On: 10-11-2007 @ 06:18:30 Reply | Top | Edit

dont do the turbo route; its masssive amounts of $

the car looks realy really good; well put together, great stripe layout too. very nice car
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http://www.freewebs.com/iroczman15/

Posted By: Shift On: 10-14-2007 @ 23:06:57 Reply | Top | Edit

I love exclamation points!
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Posted By: LeadFootedRacer On: 10-15-2007 @ 07:49:01 Reply | Top | Edit

car looks emaculate, but those tail pipes look a little stock. IMHO, like just about everyone else said, stay away from Turbos. build yourself a stout motor with a little spray, and you'll be happy. a good tranny with a nice firm shift, a set of rear gears and a mean exhaust, and you'll be lovin it.
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Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 10-19-2007 @ 07:12:34 Reply | Top | Edit

Had to put a new Tranny mount in last week, she riped out wile doing a smokey burn out! I knew what happend as soon as I nailed it and felt a thud when the trsnny hit the bottom of the car.
6 bucks at auto zone. No biggie.

Posted By: nic On: 10-20-2007 @ 05:16:45 Reply | Top | Edit

i agree about chaing the tail pipes, needs some chrome

but thats the only thing i could see that needz anything,,car looks amazing...
--
86 firebird == swapping v6 - v8
96 sunfire --parting out need partz?
N!C

Posted By: IROCZman15 On: 10-20-2007 @ 17:01:31 Reply | Top | Edit

T-Top - i got to replace the tranny mount in my car in the next few weeks; how easy/hard is it to do? just use wood, jack the tranny up? remove the mount? replace? i have done the t.q.arm-tranny mount ..and ive been told if i did that i can do the trans mount no problem

just wanted to check with someone who has done it recenelty. 700R4. let me know any hidden issues or difficulty. u go with a polyurethane one or rubber one?
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http://www.freewebs.com/iroczman15/

Posted By: Pocket On: 10-20-2007 @ 20:23:43 Reply | Top | Edit

Ive done it several times

Roll car up on ramps

Remove bolts

jack up tailshaft

remove and install mount

Lower and replace bolts

Takes 15 mins
--
"If you have complete control over the damned thing, you're not going fast enough." - Carrol Smith

Posted By: roubenbird On: 10-20-2007 @ 23:01:17 Reply | Top | Edit

it's a reallll realllll quick fix. Usually, you won't even get dirty.
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Posted By: T_TopBandit On: 10-21-2007 @ 05:25:36 Reply | Top | Edit

Yeah the pipes need some attention but I just can't make up my mind what kinda tips would look best on this car and not look redneck!
Next spring I have many plans for the car with a full performance exuast and headers to start.
Still can't decide what engine I want to go with when I do a swap. I would love more then anything to drop a SBC 400 in it if I could find out for sure if the TPI would work on a 400!
I can't find anything on the net about anyone ever doing it. I've also thought about just bolting a supercharger on the 305 and see how that runs. Heck I can't make up my mind.

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